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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. T, G. PRATT. SELF ACTING CAUTION AND DANGER SIGNAL FOR RAILWAYS- No.567,865. Patented Sept. 15, 1896.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. T. O, PRATT. SELF ACTING CAUTION AND DANGER SIGNAL FOR RAILWAYS.

No. 567,866. Patented Sept. 15,1896.

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5 Firms co. worn-Luau. WASHINGTON D c (No Model.) 3 She'etsSheet 3.

W. T. O. PRATT. SELF ACTING CAUTION AND DANGER SIGNALPOR RAILWAYS.

Patented SBpt. 15, 1896.

flmrentor attorneys.

NITED STATES IVILLIAM T. O; PRATT, OF BRISTOL, ENGLAND.

SELF-ACTING CAUTION AND DANGER SIGNAL FOR RAILWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 567,865, datedSeptember 15, 1896.

Application filed November 29, 1895. Serial No 570,511. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM THOMAS CAssEL PRATT, gentleman, a subject ofthe Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at 10 Downleaze SneydPark,Bristol,England,have invented an Improvement in Self -ActingCaution and Danger Signals for Railways, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to an auxiliary signal to be used on railways inaddition to and in connection with the ordinary signals, and has for itsobject to sound a whistle or gong on the engine when the ordinary signalis at danger, so as to warn the driver and guard that such is the casein the event of their not having noticed the fact by reason of fog orfrom any other cause.

I11 order that my said invention may be more clearly understood, I willnow proceed to describe the same with reference to the drawingsaccompanying this specification, in which- Figure 1 shows a sideelevation of a portion of the back part of a locomotive-engine having mymechanism adapted thereto. Fig. 2 shows a portion of half of the back ofa locomotive-engine also furnished with my mechanism at the sidethereof. Fig. 3 shows the back of a locomotive-engine with my inventionadapted between the wheels, as hereinafter described. Figs. dand 5 aredetached parts hereinafter referred to.

The same letters denote the same parts in all the views.

WVith reference to Figs. 1 and 2, I fix to one or both sides of theengine a frame composed of two rods a a, bolted together and in the formof a hook at top and bottom. The upper hooked portions are divided intotwo, so that the divided parts a, which are pivoted at b, may be turnedback, for the purpose hereinafter described.

0 shows a number of oval rings (communicators) made of metal or othersuitable material. These rings pass over the "rods a a, forming theframe, the bulk of such rings being on the upper hooked portions a,(which portions are turned back on the pivots h in order to put therings on.) (:1 shows a supplementary whistle actuated by the lever 8,rod f, and chain 19. The lower end of the rod f has a hooked piece 9fixed horizontally at its lower extremity, so as to partially encircleone of the rods a, as shown to an enlarged scale detached at Fig. 5.

q is a weight on the lever e, nearly heavy enough to counterbalance theweight of the chain 19, handle 0, rod f, and hook-piece g, so that theweight resting on the ring c may not be excessive. At the lower ends ofthe rods a I provide collars or projections h for one of the rings 0 torest upon, as hereinafter described. I may have the above an rangementfitted on each side of the engine, or on one side only, or in thecenter, as shown in Fig. 3. The method of fixing the rods a a to theengine in this latter case is shown detached in side elevation at Fig.4.

On the permanent way I have the followin g mechanism in connection withthe ordinary signal: To the rod from the signal-box, which actuates thesignals, I connect the rod 7 (see Figs. 2 and 3) by means of lever 7t,such lever having a counterbalance-weight 7t. The lever 7c is fixed atone end to the rod 2', and at the opposite end of this rod I fix a knifeI in such position that when the rod 7: is turned upon the ordinarysignal being put at danger the knife Zis in a vertical position, asshown in Figs. 2 and 3, and is kept locked in such position so longasthe signal remains at danger.

n, Fig. 2, shows a bar to prevent the knife Z being forced down by thering a on the engine at the time of contact, as hereinafter described. IV hen the signals are at all right, the knife 1 lies in a horizontalposition.

at shows the rails.

The action is as follows: The frame or frames formed by the rods a a arefirst supplied with a number of rings or communicators 0, these beingplaced on the upper hooked portions a a by turning such portionspartially back on the pivots b b. The handle 0, fixed to the rod f, isthen raised and turned, so as to cause the hooked piece 9 to clear therods a. One of the rings or t com'municators c is then brought up anddropped down the rods a a and will fall and rest on the collar orprojection h. The handle 0 is then turned in an opposite direction tothat aforesaid, so as to bring the hooked piece 9 back into its normalposition, as shown at Fig. 5, e., so as to rest on the ring orcommunicator c.

Now, supposing the signal to be at danger, the knife l would be lockedin a vertical position, either between the rails m m, as at Fig. 3, orat one side of the rails, as at Fig. 2. It will be seen on reference tothese figures that as the engine travels it will bring the ring a on thelower extremity of the rods a a into direct contact with the knife Z,and this will have the effect of cutting the said ring 0, which willconsequently fall off the rods a a, and the support being thus takenfrom under the hook gwill cause the rod f to fall, and thus actuate thewhistle (Z by means of the lever e and chain 19, and this whistle willbe kept blowing until another ring c-is dropped down the rods a and thehooked piece 9 is brought over it and supported as aforesaid. Of courseI may use the ordinary whistle, if found desirable, instead of having asupplementary one.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is

1. In a self-acting caution and danger signal, the combination with twovertical rods having upper hooked ends, of a plurality of rings carriedby the said ends, a ring similar to those aforesaid carried near thelower extremity of the said Vertical rods, a hooked arm adapted to restupon the said ring, a rod carrying at one end the hooked arm aforesaidand connected at its other end to a whistle or other signal device, andmeans for disrupting the ring 0 when the switch is set at thedanger-point, substantially as described.

2. In a self-acting caution and danger sig nal for railways, thecombination with a whistle or other signal, of a chain and rod connectedthereto, a hooked arm carried at the lower extremity of the said rod, aring upon which normally rests the aforesaid hooked arm, and by thedisruption of which ring the latter is caused to descend, means forthrowing said arm in and out of engagement with the said ring, twovertical rods carrying the aforesaid ring and a plurality of similarrings carried near the upper ends of said vertical rods, a bladepivotally mounted in the roadway and connected to the signaling devicethrough a counterbalanced arm and adapted to be held in a verticalposition when the signal is at the danger-point and to disrupt the ring0 when it comes in contact with said blade, substantially as described.

V. T. C. PRATT.

Witnesses:

R. EDINGTON, J ANE JoHNs.

